One way of growing your Tagalog vocabulary faster is to take two words at once and learn

both of them simultaneously. This is accomplished by using word pairs that contrast with

each other in meanings. So here I have listed several sets of Tagalog words that have

opposite meanings.Then I will use each of the contrasting words in a simple sentence.

buhay - alive
Mananatiling buhay sa aking ala-ala ang ating maliligayang araw.

Our happy days will remain alive in my memory.

They say there is a dead rat on the ceiling of your room.

bata - young
Marami na tayong batang kasapi sa ating samahan.

We already have a lot of young members in our association.

matanda - old
Ang punong ito ay kasing tanda ng kastilyo.

This tree is as old as the castle.

bago - new
Malapit na naman ang bagong taon.

The New Year is again getting near.

The maid sold the old newspapers.

babae - female
Ang silid na ito ay para sa mga babae lamang.

This room is for females only.

lalaki - male

Ang mga lalaking kasama sa palatuntunan ay pinakikiusapan na

manatiling nakatayo.

Male participants in the program are requested to remain standing.

katotohanan - truth
Ang katotohanan ay mahirap pasubalian.

It is very difficult to disprove the truth.

Falsehood sooner or later will be exposed.

ayaw - don't like
Ayaw pumasok sa paaralan ng bata.

The child does not like to go to school.

bukas - tomorrow
Sana ay maging maganda ang panahon bukas.

I wish that there will be good weather tomorrow.

kahapon - yesterday
Buong araw na umulan kahapon.

It rained the whole day yesterday.

simula - beginning
Ito ay magiging simula ng isang dakilang kwento ng pagmamahalan.

This will be the beginning of a great love story.

wakas - end
Ang kanyang pagkamatay ay nagsilbing wakas ng isang alamat.

His death marked the end of a legend.

maayos - ordely
Ang kanyang silid ay lubhang maayos.

Her room is very orderly.

magulo - chaotic
Magulo pa ang sitwasyon sa labas.

The situation outside is still chaotic.

paakyat - going up
Matarik ang daanan paakyat sa bundok.

The road going up the mountain is steep.

pababa - going down
Pababa na ang galaw ng presyo ng langis sa pamilihan.

The movement of the oil price in the market is going down.

basa - wet
Magaling na panglinis sa makintab na gamit ang basang basahan.

A wet rag is good for cleaning shiny utensils.

tuyo - dry
Tuyo na ang mga damit na nilabhan mo.

The clothes that you washed are dry already.

abante - forward
Paki abante muna ang mga sasakyan para magkaroon ng lugal dito.

Please move the cars forward so we can have a space here.

atras - backward
Mahirap mag-park ng sasakyan nang paatras.

It is difficult to park a vehicle by moving backward.

meron - there is
Meron pa bang natitirang itlog sa palamigan?

Are there still eggs left at the refrigerator?

wala - none
Wala ni isa man ang sumipot sa pagpupulong.

Not any one came to the meeting.